An informal summit of the European Council is taking place at Prague Castle on Friday, held during the Czech Presidency of the Council and hosted by Czech Premier Petr Fiala. Russia's aggression in Ukraine, energy and the economic situation in Europe are high on the agenda. Before the start of the meeting, Premier Eduard Heger said that it is important that we help Hungary strengthen checks on external Schengen borders. Syria and Afghanistan have been defined as countries where there is war, and so it is impossible to repatriate refugees there, he said, adding that it is important to secure the external border. Although Heger met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday (October 6), the two officials did not speak about the migration crisis. The informal format of the summit allows for exchanges of opinions on urgent issues without the leaders taking formal decisions.
Following the afternoon portion of the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Prague on Thursday Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger stated that if Russian President Vladimir Putin lost his leverage over Europe, a great deal of uncertainty would disappear, stabilising the gas markets and the prices of the commodity. According to Heger, Putin only cares about his own benefit. "He wants to generate the same revenues [as Russia had before] for notably decreased supplies [of gas]," said the premier. Prime Minister noted in this vein that the EPC summit did not address the issue of soaring gas prices, adding that he expects it to be dealt with at the informal meeting of the European Council on Friday.
In the afternoon on Thursday, the Slovak premier chaired a roundtable debate on peace and security in Europe along with Moldovan President Maia Sandu. The leaders of a further nine European countries, including Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and President of the European Council Charles Michel, took part in the discussion.
Heger then held three bilateral meetings, namely with Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani and the aforementioned Maia Sandu.
Source: TASR
